Process and apparatus for the electric-arc treatment of gases.



F. H. A. WIELGULASKL- PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR THE ELECTRIC ARC fREATMENT 0F GAS ES. APPLICATION FILED SEPT- 28, 1916.

1,287,807, Patented Dec.17, 1918.

Inventor:

E HAWiBlgulnski by 4 /3444 Attorney FBAN S HENRIK AUBERT VtIELGOLASKI, OF CHRISTIANIA, NORWAY.

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR THE ELECTBICrARC TREATMENT OF GASES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 1'7, 1918.

Application filed September 28, 1916. Serial No. 122,623.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANS HENRIK AU- BERT WIELGOLASKI, a subject of the King pf Norway, residing at Odins gate 1, Chr 1stiania, in the Kingdom of Norway, have 1nvented certain new and useful Improvements in the Processes and Apparatus for the Electric-Arc Treatment of Gases, of which the following is a specification.

It is a well-known fact that, in reversible gas reactions which are assisted by high temperatures and which therefore are preferably carried out in electric arc furnaces, it is important in the first place to cause the products to leave the furnace with the highest possible temperature, ceiiseqacntly from the arc itself directly, in the second place to cause the quickest possible cooling of the products down to the point at which the product is comparatively stable, and in the third place to cause a sufliciently long duration of action of the electrip arc upon the The present invention has for its object to satisfy all these requirements, which is obtained by the following process and constructional arrangements:

In order to take the gases out from the furnace with the highest possible temperature, the outlet opening is arranged directly at the end of the arc-gap in' such aman'ner, that the end of the arc plays in' this openmg itself and so that the outlet direction is directed in the longitudinal extension of the are. In order that the gases may remain for a sufiiciently long time under the action of the arc, the flow to the outlet opening should most possibly be compelled to take place'along the arc. This is best-obtained by causing the gases to whirl around the are as a consequence of a tangential blowing-in, preferably through a narrow slot on the whole length of the furnace space, or through a row of holes or of short slots, or by causing the gases to appro'ach the are from all directions in other way, for in Stance through porous or perforated walls.

In order to obtain the highest possible outflow velocity, I provide for the outflow {taking place under a sufficiently large difrence in pressure between the inner and Outer side of the outflow opening. This difference in pressure may be produced by makmg the outflow opening sufficiently iiarltdw and by decreasing the pressure outside the outflow opening (by sucking the gases out from the furnace) or by increasing the pressure inside the said opening, viz: within the reaction-space (by forcing the gases into the same under pressure) or by using both methods in combination.

If. an increased pressure is used inside the furnace then one is able to increase the said difference in pressure and thereby the outflow velocity of the products quite as desired, which is highly important, because an increase of the gas pressure within the reaction space will highly accelerate the chemical reactions and increase the degree of concentration of the furnace products, see for instance experiments of Rossi, partly reported in: Die Tcchn'ische Ausnutzung des Atmosphdrz'schen Stz'clcsto/fes 'von Eduard Donath u'nd Dr. Karl Frenel pages 95-96. This fact is explained partly in this way, that the electric are on account of increased electric resistance has a much higher temperature in a gas under high pressure than in a gas under ordinary atmospheric pressure, and'is partly due to the fact that the production-velocity increases at an increase of the gas pressure whereas the dissociationvelocity decreases. The best method therefore is to use within the furnace space a pressure which is suitably increased according to the circumstances. But even by the use of atmospheric pressure within the furnace space and sucking out the products in the above-indicated manner considerable advantages are obtained above the method hitherto practised.

When thus the gases flow out under an essential decrease in pressure, they on account of their expansion are subjected to a considerable decrease in temperature. which takes place practically at the instant of the reduction of pressure.

This very rapid cooling of the furnace products may be continued by causing the gas jet, just outside the out-blow opening to strike and spread at a great velocity against a comparatively cold metal surface, for instance against the end plate of a steam boiler, through which the gases are there upon conducted by means of a large number of tubes, which preferably are of a small diameter.

The place, at which the gas jet strikes against the boiler wall, should be cone- However, in the arc itself and in its longishaped, the point of the cone being directed tudinal direction the ases will, as menagalnst the center of the gas jet, and the tioned, flow witha very igh velocity toward feed water of the boiler should like a jet be the outflow openin Therefore practically 5 directed to the inner side of the said place, only such gases which are very much heated 7' or the water within the boiler should by will come to leave the furnace space. means of a circulation-pump be directed like As shown in Fi 1 the outfiowing gas-jet a strong jet against the said place will strike direct y against a water-cooled An example of an arrangement whichis metal surface (an end late 9 of a suitable for carrying out the method desteam hoileflywhich as sliown is hollowed 7 scribed is illustrated in the accompan ing out as a cone turning its point against the drawing, in which Figure 1 is alongitmfinal gas-jet. The hollowed portion of the boiler section of such an arrangement and Fig. 2 plate is washed at the inner side by a strong is a corresponding cross section on the line water-jet from the pipe -11-. The gases l5 a--b of Fig. 1. continue their way and their coolin during 8 The electric furnace consists of the tubutheir passage through a series of boi er tubes lar furnace space -1, in the middle axis -10 emp la diameten; The heat given of which .burns the electric arc 2- alojf is util im t e boiler for the producready quite stretched out. The walls -4- tion of steam.

of this furnace space is here constituted by The same arrangement may be used in 8 an electrically conducting metal plate, and connection with double or, manifold electric on the whole length of the furnace space arcs, the same arrangement being used for is arranged a very narrow slot '3- passeach separate arc. ing tangentiall through the furnace wall. Having now described my invention, what Around this fiirnace space proper 1s ar- I claim as new and desire to secure by Let- 9 ranged an outer space 5, into which the ters Patent 1s: gases to be treated are blown, for instance 1. A. process of treating gases by the elecunder pressure from a compressor. The trlc arc and of cooling such gases without outer wall of this outer furnace space is allowing any substantial amount of decomso formed by a strong mantle 16 adapted to position therein, which comprises establish- 9 stand the gas-pressure and preferab y elecingand maintaining an elongated arc. trically insulated from the current-conductlengthwise. of a treating chamber and subin parts of the furnace and provided with stantlalfiy centrally therein, between two a eat-insulation lining -6-. electrodes, one of which is hollow and conl6 .The end wall 7- of the furnace space l51tllte8 a restricted outlet for treated gases, 1 is hollow and filled with water, and in the. Introducing the gases to said chamber, middle is introduced a tube 8 having a throughout substantially the entire length of suitable diameter and forming the narrow such chamber, toward substantially the enoutflow opening. The gas in the furnace tire len h pf such are, whereby said gases as space --5- passes through the slot ,3- arethelcagi x tatusttaqt with .the are for a loo 1 like a ribbon-shaped jet into the furnace time,'-withdrawing the treated gases through space -1. Here this thin gas ribbon first such restricted outlet in a continuous manflows along the walls around the are, around nor to a cooling chamber, and maintaining which it is constantly, rolled up in a in such arc chamber a pressure materially t5 preaching the arc, and simultaneously t e higher than in such coolm chamber. 1 ribbon is slowly displaced more and more in 2. In the process of claim 1, the step of the longitudinal direction of the arc, and tangentially introducing air under su erwhen the gas in this manner has arrived atmoipheric pressure into the are cham er. quite within the are it will, at a great and 3. n the process of claim 1, the steps of i0 constantly increasing veldcity, follow the directing the gases leaving the arc chamber 1 Ion itudinal direction of the arc toward the against a pointed projection on a water out ow' opening and out through the same cooled plate, immediately after leaving the with a velocity which is the greater the restricted outlet of the arc chamber, and higher is the difi'erence in pressure between projecting a jet of cooling fluid against the 5 the inner andouter side of the outflow opposite side o sairlplate in close proximity opening. to said pro'ection, whereby the gases are This violent central outflow in connection tp'liickly coo ed to a temperature at which with the energetic rotation of the furnace t ey are relatively stable. gases within the furnace space will have the ,4. An apparatus for the electric-arc treat- 0 result, that only the central gas portions ment of ases, comprising along arc eham- I in the furnace space-viz: the gases which her provi ed with a tangential sl1t-like openare present in the are itself and which thus mg that H n he; t substantially its entire are the hottest ones-will obtain a remarklength, 'ii ofi e erkifl id arc chamber formin able movement in the longitudinal direction one electrode, and the said exit being locate 5 of the are. opposite to a substantially cone shaped pr0- 1 ,aa1,8o1 a. V 3

jection on the shell of a steam boiler, against In testimony whereof I have signed my which the said gases are forcibly ejected name to this specification in the preseiice of from said are chamber, and means for protwo subscribing witnesses.

jecting a current of cooling water against FRANS HENRIK AUBERT WIELGOLASKI. the inner concave side of said projection, Witnesses:

whereby efl'ective rapid cooling ofthe gases AxEL LAHN,

is efiecteds Mooms BUGGE.

copies of this patent may be obtained for an cent: each, by addressing the "commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

